Shoe covering and gaiter



w. BAUER Nov. 11, 1969 SHOE COVERING AND GAITER Filed Aug. 2, 1966vW/LL/AM fi z gg United States Patent 3,477,147 SHOE COVERING AND GAITERWilliam Bauer, 212 Forrester St.. El Campo, TeX. 77437 Filed Aug. 2,1966, Ser. No. 569,691 Int. Cl. A41d 17/00 US. Cl. 36-2 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises the combination of a shoecovering and gaiter, both being of a pliant, protective sheet material,with the upper section overlapping at the rear and the overlap beingpreserved by the means which connects the upper and lower sections. Ameans is also provided to hold the lower section upon the shoe and at apredetermined elevation above the bottom surfaces-of the shoe.

The invention relates to a shoe covering and gaiter for the purpose ofprotecting the shoes and lower leg parts of workers, such as workers ondrilling rig floors and the like, where oil or production slush, andwater in rainy weather, can penetrate the shoes and through to the legsthereabove, with disagreeable results and health hazard.

As a primary object the invention sets out to provide a combination shoecovering and gaiter of this class, which includes a lower section ofrain and weather repellant, pliant material, to extend downwardly overthe side of the sole and heel of the Workers shoes, and upwardlythereabove, and which includes an upper section of correspondingmaterial to be readily and securely connected to the lower section, andto cover the shoes and legs below the knee.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a shoe covering andgaiter of this class, in which the upper and lower section may be zipperconnected, and the rear edges of the gaiter portion also zipperconnected by the same zipper whereby the whole covering and gaiter maybe installed or taken off by a single zipper operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a shoe covering andgaiter of this class, in which the upper portion of the lower sectiontogether with the shoe, provide cooperative means whereby the lowersection may be tightly, lace applied to the junction between the uppersurface of the sole and the shoe.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification hereinis considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectionalelevational view, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, part in section, showing the lower part ofanother embodiment of the invention, details of the upper section lowerportion and of the lower section being shown, with the lower sectionsheet material being shown cut away in part, thus to show relativepositions of the lower section reenforcing cord and lace cord, and amanner of lacing the lace cord through staples in the sole of the shoe;

FIG. 4 is a transverse, fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view,taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, but with the sheet material, shown cutaway in FIG. 3, being shown in this view, and in relative relationshipto sole, lace cord, reenforcing cord, staple, and zipper connectingupper and lower section;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of still another embodiment of theinvention;

3,477,147 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 "Ice FIG. 6 is a transverse,fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view, as taken in the embodimentof FIG. 5 at the same relative position as the view of FIG. 4 is takenin FIG. 3, except that such section is taken through a staple in thisview; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the upper section of any of theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-2, in FIGS; 3-4, and in FIGS. 5-6, theupper section being indicated as lined for cold weather wear.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference numeralsare applied to like elements in the various views, a shoe covering andgaiter 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as comprised of a lower section 12 and anupper section 11. The lower section 11 includes a lower part or apron13, which extends downwardly over the upper, outer edge of the sole 15of the shoe 19, and also downwardly over the upper part of the heel 14.The lower section 12 also includes an upper part 16 which extendsupwardly from the lower part 13 to a line of junction with the uppersection 11 as formed by a conventional plastic zipper 18, the lower halfof the zipper being aflixed to the upper edge of the lower section 12,and the upper half of the zipper being affixed to the lower edge orbottom of the upper section 11.

In detail, the aforesaid upper zipper half 22, as best indicated in FIG.2, is affixed, as by epoxy, to the under side of the aforesaid loweredge 23 of the shoe covering portion 17 of the upper section 11, andthus this lower edge 23 covers, occludes, or shrouds the whole zipper18, and for this reason such shroud is omitted for purposes of clarityin FIG. 1. The mating lower half 21 of zipper 18 is affixed, as byepoxy, to the outer surface of the upper edge of the upper part 16 ofthe lower section 12, while the under surface of the central part 24 ofthe lower section 12 may be afiixed to the upper surface outer edge ofthe sole 15, as by glue. Both the upper section 11 and the lower section12 being of a pliant material, as sheet plastic, and the upper and lowersections being cut in development to a substantially high degree ofaccuracy, when the zipper 18 is zipped up, as will be hereinbelowdescribed, a substantially firm line of connection can be made aroundthe shoe 19, just outwardly of its junction with the sole 15, as bestindicated in FIG. 2.

Above the shoe covering portion 17, the upper section 11 provides agaiter portion 25, which extends to a reenforced top ring 26 which issplit centrally behind at the start of the zipper 18, the rear edges 27of the gaiter 25 overlapping to provide an area extending verticallyfrom the top ring 26 downwardly to the lower section 12 at the rear ofthe heel. The gaiter 25 is thus zipped up as the zipper key or lacer 28is moved downwardly to connect the zipper half 22, on the proximate rearedge of the gaiter 25, to the zipper half 22a, along the rear of thegaiter part which goes around the off side of the leg, as viewd in FIG.1, and underlaps the gaiter part viewed frontally in FIG. 1, which hasits vertically extending rear edge terminated by the zipper half 22.Thus the underlap is shown extending from the rear forwardly to thedotted line 27, whereby the line of the zipper half 22a is spaced say adistance of one inch from the gaiter edge 27.

The lower end of the zipper half 22a terminates in a lowermostconnection link 29a disposed so that the zipper lacer 28 may passtherefrom to the zipper lower half 21, so that as the lacer or key 28 ismoved from the vertically extending zipper half 22a, it continuesengaged with the zipper half 22, now extending horizontally, and inpassing around the shoe, in counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG.1, it zips up the upper and lower zipper halves 22, 21, and comes tostop with the whole gaiter and shoe covering zipped together, in theposition it is shown occupying in FIG. 1, at the rear oif side of theheel 14.

Then, conversely, the zipper lacer 28 may be moved in clockwisedirection, around the off side of the shoe to the front, and thenrearwardly around the near side of the shoe, over the rear connectinglink 2% of the zipper half 21, and on to the zipper connecting link 29aof the zipper half 22a, to continue upwardly to complete the unlacing22, 22a, of the gaiter 25.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which thelower section 12a is changed to provide a snugger means of attaching itto the shoe in manner that it more closely fits into the space orcrevice just outwardly of the junction between the upper surface of thesole and the shoe 19. With this embodiment of the invention the lowersection 12a is shown in detailed crosssection in FIG. 4 as comprising alowermost part or apron 13a which extends downwardly over the outer sideof the sole 15, but terminating above the ground level. Thereabove thecentral part 24a comprises a looped or recurved part 30 which enfolds areenforcement cord 31, with the inner surface of the loop 30 beingprovided with a reenforcement strip 33 extending therealong, with theunderside thereof to rest on the upper surface of the sole 15 in closeproximity to the junction of the sole 15 and the shoe 19.

Above the reenforcement cord 31 the re-curved, central part 24a issealed together, as by epoxy, along a sealed strip 33, thus to enclosethe reenforcing cord 31. Then, upwardly of the sealing strip 33 theupper part 16a of the lower section 12a terminates with the lower half21a of the zipper 18a being shown afiixed, as by epoxy, to the uppermostouter surface strip of the aforesaid upper part 16a. The shoe covering17 of the upper section 11a has the mating upper half 22b of the zipper18a atfixed to, and extending horizontally along its bottom or loweredge 34, and with this construction no zipper shroud corresponding withthe zipper shroud 23, shown in FIG. 2, is shown. However, such a shroudcan be provided in this case, similarly as shown in FIG. 2, as such maybe desired to protectively cover the zipper 18a.

Staples 35 are driven into the upper surface of the sole 15 closelyadjacent to the junction between sole and shoe, such staples 35, as upto nine in number, being substantially equally spaced apart to delineatethe contour of the shoe 19 just outwardly of its junction at the shoebottom with the sole 15. Thus the staples, indicated in FIG. 3, may besaliently distributed, with a single staple forwardmost, and with fouropposed pairs of staples thereafter.

A lace cord 36 normally extends most inwardly in contact with the shoe19 and sole 15, immediately outwardly of the junction thereof, but isbrought outwardly to pass through each staple 35, and through twothicknesses of the lower section central part or loop 30, above thereenforcement cord 31, as shown in FIG. 4 in cross-sectional detail;also, the relative relationship of lace cord 36, staples 35, andreenforcement cord 31 is shown in the part of FIG. 3 in which the sheetplastic of the lower section 12a is omitted. After passing outwardlythrough a staple, and through the two thicknesses of plastic of the loop30, the lace cord 36 is continued along outwardly, under the apron partof the lower section 12a, as indicated in FIG. 4, and then still abovethe reenforcement cord 31, is brought back inwardly through the twothicknesses of plastic material of the loop 30, to continue along theaforesaid junction of shoe and sole, to a point adjacent the next staple35, and then the lacing is repeated, as aforesaid.

The rearmost pair of staples 36 are closely adjacent each other, onopposite sides of the rearmost point of the heel 14, and are drivendownwardly into the accessible outermost top surface of the heel 14, inthe same manner that the staples of the pair of staples immediatelyforward thereof are likewise driven into the heel, while the rearmostedges of the reenforcing strip 32 and of the loop 30 are in abutment,the ends of the reenforcement cord 31 being sealed within the closedends of the loop 30. Thus, the ends of the lace cord 36 may be broughtout through the two thicknesses of the loop 30, adjacent the loop ends,and tied together in a knot 37, indicated in FIG. 3, as being inwardlyof the apron 13a. As to the rear edges of the apron 13a, these may abutalong the central, fore and aft vertical plane through the shoe, as inthe case of the rear edges of the loop 30, but preferably one edge mayhave a short, laterally extending tongue to underlap the other edge,better to protect the knot 37 from water heating in.

The zipper arrangement for the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 is in correspondence with that hereinabove described withrelation to the zipper arrangement indicated for the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the zipper upper half 2212starts at the rear off side of the shoe 19 shown in FIG. 3, and extendsaround the off side to the front of the shoe, and then rearwardly on thefacing side to the terminal or transfer linkage 29d, there to turnupwardly, departing from the lower section 12a, and crossing over thelowermost, or connection linkage 290, of the part of the zipper 22c,which is exclusively on the upper section 11a, the zipper half 22bcooperates with the zipper part 22c to the top of the combination shoecovering and gaiter 10a shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper part of theupper section 11a not being shown in FIG. 3, but being constructed incorrespondence with the upper part of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the rear edges of the vertically extendingupper section portion overlap, as indicated by the overlapped under edge27a in FIG. 3.

In the form of invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, no zipper is provided,and the upper section 11b and lower section 12b are developed from asingle or unitary sheet of plastic 10b. Beginning with the lowermostpart or apron 13b, the lower section 12b follows the constructionhereinabove described for the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.3 and 4, as to the central part 24b, the loop 30a, the enfoldedreenforcement cord 31a, the reenforcement strip 32a, and the sealingstrip 33a above the loop 30. Then, above the sealing strip 33a the lowersection and upper section merge together in that these two sections 12b,11b are part of a unitary plastic sheet.

Thus the lower section 12b is tied together by the two ends of the lacecord 26, shown in section in FIG. 6, being brought together at the rearand tied together to form a knot 37a, under the apron 13b, thus to drawtightly the inner parts of the lower section 12b into the space justoutwardly of the junction of the upper surface of the sole and the shoe,as shown in detail in FIG. 6. In this regard, the shoe 15 in thismodification, has the same arrangement of staples 35 and bearing thesame relationship to the lace cord 36, as hereinabove described withrelation to the staples and lace cord shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Above the ankle the lower part of the gaiter portion 25a may be tiedtogether, as by providing a plastic, tubular member 38 encasing atie-cord 39, the ends of the tiecord 39 being brought out the abuttingends of the ring or tubular member 38, and tied into a knot. Also, atthe top of the gaiter portion 25a, above the calf of the leg, a hollowtop ring or plastic tube 40 is provided, having a tie-cord 41 thereinwith ends to be brought out the abutting ends of the top ring 40 at therear, and tied together. In FIG. 5, the dotted line 42 indicates thatthere is an area of overlap, with the left, vertically extending rearedge of the gaiter portion 25a, overextending the right edge.

In each of the three forms of embodiments of the invention, the gaiterportion may be wide enough at the top and so shaped to permit the lowerpart of the trousers legs to be enclosed by the gaiter portion.Optionally, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the gaiter portion may be ofdiametral dimension and shaped to fit the leg 43 of the wearer.

As to details of construction, for instance the cord encasing ring 38may preferably be glued to the gaiter portion above the ankle, or sealedthereto, as by epoxy. Also, the upper or top ring 40 may be aflixed tothe top of the gaiter portion 25a in a similar manner, or optionally theupper ring 40 may be formed by re-curving the top edge of the plasticback upon itself.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper sections 11, 11a and 11b are indicated aseach being optionally lined with a cold weather liner as of felt 44.

The embodiments hereinabove described and disclosed in the drawings areillustrative, and other embodiments, modifications, and variations ofstructure are included, as long as such may fall within the broad spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe covering and gaiter comprising a lower section and an uppersection, thin, pliable plastic means connecting said sections, bothsections being of thin pliable plastic, protective, sheet material, thelower section extending downwardly over the side of the shoe sole andheel and thereabove over the upper surface of the sole and about thejunction between the sole and the heel, the upper section, at itsbottom, being a covering for the shoe and the lower section extendingdownwardly from the upper section, the upper section extending upwardlyfrom the shoe covering as a gaiter to the top thereof above the calf ofthe leg and overlapping at the rear to provide an area of overlap fromlower section to top, said means connecting said sections preservingsaid overlap.

2. A shoe covering and gaiter comprising a lower section and an uppersection, means connecting said sections, both sections being of pliant,protective, sheet material, the lower section extending downwardly overthe side of the shoe sole and heel and thereabove over the upper surfaceof the sole and about the junction between the sole and the heel, theupper section, at its bottom, being a covering for the shoe and thelower section extending downwardly from the upper section, the uppersection extending upwardly from the shoe covering as a gaiter to the topthereof above the calf of the leg and overlapping at the rear to providean area of overlap from lower section to top, said means connecting saidsections preserving said overlap and comprising a conventional zipperwith one end terminating at said top and the other end terminating atthe rear of the heel, one half of the zipper being thus provided part inthe lower section and part in the gaiter portion, the other half of thezipper extending continuously in the upper section including the gaiterportion.

3. A shoe covering and gaiter comprising a lower section and an uppersection, means connecting said sections, both sections being of pliant,protective, sheet material, the lower section extending downwardly overthe side of the shoe sole and heel and thereabove over the upper surfaceof the sole and about the junction between the sole and the heel, theupper section, at its bottom, being a covering for the shoe and thelower section extending downwardly from the upper section, the uppersection extending upwardly from the shoe covering as a gaiter to the topthereof above the calf of the leg and overlapping at the rear to providean area of overlap from the lower section to top, said means connectingsaid sections preserving said overlap and including a reenforcing cordenfolded in the upper portion of said lower section, a reenforcing stripbeing attached to the inner surface of the enfolding portion inwardly ofsaid cord, staples being provided in said sole and selectively spacedapart therearound to delineate the sole proximate the shoe, thecombination including a lace cord to extend inwardly of said staplesabutting the junction of said shoe and said sole and alternatelyoutwardly through said staples and through said enfolding portion, andthus around said reenforcing cord, and back, the ends of said lace cordpassing outwardly at the rear of the heel to be tied together to lace upsaid lower section tightly around the shoe and against the upper surfaceof the sole, with the connection knot being covered over by thedownwardly extending portion of said lower section.

4. A shoe covering and gaiter comprising a lower section and an uppersection, means connecting said sections, both sections being of pliant,protective, sheet material, the lower section extending downwardly overthe side of the shoe sole and heel and thereabove over the upper surfaceof the sole and about the junction between the sole and the heel, theupper section, at its bottom, being a covering for the shoe and thelower section extending downwardly from the upper section, the uppersection extending upwardly from the shoe covering as a gaiter to the topthereof above the calf of the leg and overlapping at the rear to providean area of overlap from the lower section to top, said means connectingupper section to lower section preserving said overlap and beingcomprised of conventional zipper construction with one end adjacent saidtop and with the other end at the rear of the heel, the zipperconstruction including conventional means to lace together the two partsof the zipper construction as affixed, respectively, to the twosections.

5. A shoe covering and gaiter comprising a lower section and an uppersection, means connecting said sections, both sections being of pliant,protective, sheet material, the lower section extending downwardly overthe side of the shoe sole and heel and thereabove over the upper surfaceof the sole and about the junction between the sole and the heel, theupper section, at its bottom, being a covering for the shoe and thelower section extending downwardly from the upper section, the uppersection extending upwardly from the shoe covering as a gaiter to the topthereof above the calf of the leg and overlapping at the rear to providean area of overlap from lower section to top, said means connecting saidupper section and said lower section including a zipper, the zippercontinuing around the shoe and upwardly in an unbroken half to the top,the other half of the zipper including a part extending around the shoeand a separate part extending upwardly therefrom to the top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,014,208 9/1935 Parvin 3622,151,351 3/1939 Glowka 362 2,229,563 1/ 1941 Greenstein 362 X 2,230,3802/1941 Johst 362 2,344,415 3/ 1944 Ryan 362 3,087,260 4/ 1963 Hudon 362X PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

